Con-nnnnn-stant cra-aaaaa-ving…
Posted by Carrie on 18 Nov 2008 | Tagged as: Fitness and Health, Gabriel, Pictures and movies, Samuel
I never knew that Seasonal Affective Disorder can involve sugar cravings. I just thought it was the constant enticements of “holiday goodies” making me go all “COOKIE MONSTER AAAAAAAA-NOM-NOM-NOM” around this time of the year. That, perhaps, and some sort of pre-evolutionary throwback need to pack on fat for the long winter of scarcity. Huh. Might need to revisit South Beach - not to lose weight, but to have some sort of codified rule system for eating to consult while in the midst of the bad chemical juju.
Hey, Mom: I got down in the dumps the other day, so I opened one of the presents in the surprise box. I love the earrings and necklace. Gabe does, too, as he sits in my lap and names the colors with a deep and intense air of seriousness. That’s how he does things like that lately. Sam was in a play in church this week, and apparently Gabe’s Sunday School teacher decided to take the kids in the class up to the balcony to watch (I was in the nursery, but I got to see the play during the dress rehearsal); I later got reports from youth group members who were up there with him, saying that he had been quite, er, stentorian with his reading of the letters on the screen over the actors’ heads. “Peeeeee! Arrrrrrr! Ohhhhh!” etc. It took him time to get to the end of the word “promise,” but the teenagers didn’t get a bit tired of it, rolling on the floor with laughter as they were.
I’m glad others find him amusing. 
Everybody who knows him keeps coming to me to tell me how much they enjoy him, but he’s definitely a person who’s easier to enjoy in small doses, so to speak. I return to the word “intense,” as it’s probably the most descriptive of who Gabe is these days.
Sam is, too, though in different ways. He’s like me, in that we both tend to flare quickly with strong emotions, and then we swing back the other direction just as fast, forgetting what had us upset as we move onward. Last night, we had an awful violin practice experience, ending with me giving up and sending him to the shower, intending to put him to bed early (he was a bit overtired). His anger turned into tears of angst, and he insisted that he was stupid and that I hated him. But it took about five or ten minutes to reassure him…after which he was loving, cheerful, and full of displays of affection. That’s Sam, never down for long. (Check with me again after tonight’s violin time…)
Tonight: haircuts for the boys, hopefully, and a quick dinner, before heading out for a book exchange with friends. My bookshelves will sigh in relief as I unload them, if only for a while. 
6 Comments »
on 18 Nov 2008 at 4:55 pm
dangitAnge said …
So the massive sugar cravings I’m having are a seasonal thing? Too bad I get them the worst during the loooongest season of the year!
on 18 Nov 2008 at 6:17 pm
Stephanie said …
Have you found the SAD to be any better since you’ve been running? Per my doc’s advice, I’m trying to get in three hour-long power walks per week. Saturday and Sunday are easy, but by the time I get out of work, finding time to get the third one in is tough. It’s hard to convince yourself to go out for a walk in the dark. Even the dog looks at me like I’m nuts.
on 18 Nov 2008 at 9:38 pm
lb said …
The best way I’ve found around those awful music practices is to do them in the morning. Not sure how that would work for your family, but it might be worth a try. Their little brains are just not much good at working on hard things in the evenings. How long is his practice? Getting up 15mins earlier and doing it after breakfast, before school, might be something to try for a week. For us, it is an absolute night and day (haha!) difference.
on 19 Nov 2008 at 5:29 pm
hannah said …
Sugar.
It’s my Achilles heel.
on 19 Nov 2008 at 6:33 pm
Carrie said …
Stephanie - a little better. Still bad, but nowhere near as awful as it used to be.
lb - I don’t know how we could. As it is, trying to practice without somebody to distract Gabe makes for an even bigger headache. Eric leaves for work before I’m even dressed.
on 21 Nov 2008 at 8:35 pm
Jenn said …
My SAD was actually cured by taking 800 IU of Vitamin D every day. My doctor tested me out of the blue and found it was very very low. Apparently in the Midwest that is very common due to lack of sunshine. So, they told me to take a minimum of 800 IU and it has made a world of difference. So, I’m spreading the word!